Arthritis Drug May Help Diabetes Too

Doctors have rediscovered that salsalate, a drug used to treat arthritis, may be beneficial for type 2 diabetes as well. Rediscovered? Well, dial back to 1876 -- a medical journal reported on a patient who was successfully treated with salicylate (a simple form of salsalate) for diabetes. Salicylates are a subset of NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

Now, researchers from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston report that using salsalate for short time periods can lower blood sugar before people eat and after they eat -- and affect average blood sugar measurements over time. It may turn out to be that one drug benefits both conditions -- arthritis and diabetes.

Salsalate is reportedly safe and inexpensive. Results from a broad study carried out in 13 states, that evaluated salsalate as a treatment for type 2 diabetes, are expected to be released in a couple of months. A larger study will begin later in the year at 20 U.S. sites. More than 15 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes and over 46 million have doctor-diagnosed arthritis. Some of those patients have both conditions. Salsalate may prove to be a good treatment option for that population of patients.

Related Resources:

• What Are Salicylates?
• More About Salsalate
• Patient Education Drugs A-Z: Salsalate
• Arthritis and Diabetes Together Can Impede Physical Activity
• Plaquenil May Reduce Diabetes Risk in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients

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